The goal of this chapter is to describe requirements that define a workstation that is optimized to run Windows NT Workstation and to support Win32-based applications created for the workstation. The workstation is a platform for users whose principal computing tasks involve running mission-critical networked applications, engineering or scientific applications, media-authoring tools, or software-development tools.
Although Windows NT Workstation is used on stand-alone systems, the PC 98 requirements support the more common use of Windows NT Workstation as a platform for network productivity.
The key design issues for PC 98 workstations include processor, memory, and bus architecture requirements to support intensive computational activities.
1. Workstation meets all requirements for Office PC 98
Required
Each Basic PC 98 component indicated as a requirement for Office PC 98 is also a requirement for PC 98 workstations.
Note: Systems designed to run only on Windows NT are not required to meet PC 98 requirements for legacy Plug and Play support. If the system is designed to run either Windows 98 or Windows NT, it must meet all PC 98 requirements for legacy Plug and Play support.
2. Workstation meets requirements for optimal performance
Required
In addition to the basic PC 98 minimum requirements, the following items are required for optimal workstation performance:
For multiprocessor systems, 64 MB minimum is required for each processor.
3. Workstation supports multiple processors
| Recommended |
Multiprocessor support using Intel Architecture processors must comply with MultiProcessor Specification, Version 1.4 or higher, from Intel Corporation.
If multiprocessor support is provided, each processor must have a separate L2 cache.
4. Workstation RAM can be expanded
Recommended
Workstation RAM should be capable of being expanded to at least 1 GB.
5. Workstation system memory includes ECC memory protection
Required
The system memory and L2 cache must be protected with Error Correction Code (ECC) memory protection. The ECC must be able to detect a double-bit error in one word and to correct a single-bit error in one word, where “word” means the base width in bits of the memory subsystem. To detect the failure of a single DRAM device, the ECC should be capable of detecting a 4-bit or 8-bit error in one word, with detection of 4-bit errors preferred. An error that cannot be corrected must result in a system fault.
6. Workstation includes APIC support
Required
The workstation must include APIC support, implemented as defined in the APIC extension to the ACPI 1.0 specification. Features such as targeted interrupts, broadcast interrupts, and prior-owner interrupts must be supported. Intel Architecture processor implementations can use the Intel APIC component.
7. Workstation includes high-performance components
Recommended
Basic PC 98 requirements support high-performance components for workstations, such as bus mastering for I/O and storage and write combining for Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors. In addition, the PC 98 recommendation for ensuring that drivers are tuned for 32-bit performance is especially recommended for workstations.
8. Workstation supports 64-bit I/O bus architecture
Recommended
For PCI, the workstation should support the 64-bit physical address space, and PCI adapters should be able to address any location in that address space.
9. Workstation does not include ISA expansion slots
Recommended
It is strongly recommended that workstations not include ISA expansion slots. ISA devices cannot meet the high-performance requirements for workstation systems, resulting in a performance bottleneck.
10. Graphics subsystem supports workstation performance demands
Required
This requirement is for workstations designed to support high-resolution graphics applications. A workstation does not have to meet this requirement if it is designed for financial or transaction-based markets and is not intended to support graphics-intensive applications.
For a workstation PC that is intended to support graphics-intensive applications the following PC 98 support must be provided:
Direct3D hardware designed to support OpenGL-based applications must be capable of meeting the OpenGL rasterization rules. Direct3D drivers must report through the appropriate capabilities bit whether or not the hardware actually conforms to OpenGL requirements.
For information about 3-D hardware acceleration supported by Direct3D, see the “Graphics Adapters” chapter in Part 4 of this guide. For information about OpenGL rasterization requirements and conformance rules, see the web site at http://www.sgi.com/technology/opengl/arb.html.
For workstation systems intended for use with computer-aided design (CAD) or other high-performance graphical applications, 1280 × 1024 × 24 bpp resolution is recommended. Hardware that implements 32-bpp display modes (for example, display hardware for high-end engineering workstations) should implement RGB-mode rasterization.
11. Workstation meets PC 98 DVD-Video and MPEG-2 playback requirements
| Required, with DVD-Video |
Support for DVD-Video playback is required for a workstation only if the workstation supports playback on DVD-Video devices.
If the workstation does include a DVD-Video device, then the system must support MPEG-2 and DVD-Video playback as described in the “Graphics Adapters” and “Video and Broadcast Components” chapters in Part 4 of this guide.
12. Storage components rely on SCSI controller
Recommended
SCSI is a flexible I/O bus that supports good performance for access and throughput to meet a workstation’s intensive data transfer needs. For more information about related requirements, see the “SCSI” chapter in Part 3 of this guide.
13. Workstation includes multiple hard drives
Recommended
Recommended: Hardware acceleration of RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks) drives.
Multiple hard drives can be incorporated for improved performance (multiple spindle access and striping with RAID 0) or for data integrity (RAID 1/5).